Spritzgebäck- German kekse

"I am still convinced that a good, simple, homemade cookie is preferable to all the store-bought cookies one can find."

James Beard

 

I was asked to bake some cookies for a wedding party. (yes, that one) The bride wanted nothing fancy and no chocolate!  ( wardrobe malfxns) . I gave them a selection of nice butter cookies, and some lemon cookies. 

Here is the result---->German Spritzgebäck Kekse 

 "Kekse" translates as cookie from German . Pronounced like "cakes"

  .....from this very nice website germanchristmaskekse

This site provides a recipe calculator. It will formulate the recipe based on how many cookies you want to make !! 

German Spritzgebäck Kekse

36 cookies

Ingredients 

8 oz flour

3 oz powdered sugar

1 Teaspoon Vanilla 

1 egg white

1 egg yolk

7 oz butter

2 oz cornstarch 

pinch zested lemon ( optional)

Method:

1. Line baking sheets with baking paper
2. Preheat the oven 350F (325F fan assisted)
3. Whisk soft butter, powdered sugar and vanilla sugar until light and frothy
4. Mix in eggs, egg yolks and lemon peel
5. Mix flour and cornstarch
6. Blend into dough mixture
7. Fill dough into piping bag with star nozzle
8. Pipe different shapes onto baking sheets, try circles, S - shapes or bow ties!
9. Bake on middle shelf for 10 - 15 minutes until lightly golden
10. Remove cookies on baking paper from baking sheets and allow to cool completely
11. If you like, dip cookie tips or half the cookie into melted chocolate coating
12. Leave to set on baking paper
13. Tastes best after 3 to 4 weeks

 The dough pipes beautifully-easy to handle, not sticky

Light, airy

 The backs dipped in chocolate taste similar to  a "Milano" cookie

 Piping trick-Measure out the lines on the parchment to keep the size of the cookie uniform. Pipe on the Opposite side, so no pencil gets on your cookies :)

Guten Appetit!!